What is best way to Prevent Aluminum Welding table from rusting?

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I was thinking of spraying it down with a product called Evaporust every so often.I like it because it doesn't stink like other rust removers and is easy to clean up (water based)www.evaporust.comI've read about WD40, corrosion x, and paste wax (as well as cold galvanized paint and zinc coatings which I was told are toxic when heated/burned)Since I'm using this table almost exclusively for aluminum I'm guessing I do not want oils and stuff contaminated the AL.
Reply:Or you could use an aluminum top on the table instead of steel,,,,From the desk of Kevin CaronTrying to be the best me I can!www.kevincaron.comAHP Alpha Tig 200x MillerMatic 251Miller Syncrowave 200
Reply:really? Aluminum oxidizes pretty easily and doesn't conduct electricity very well once oxidized?
Reply:Originally Posted by AluminumWelderreally? Aluminum oxidizes pretty easily and doesn't conduct electricity very well once oxidized?
Reply:"Without looking at the MSD for Evaporust, I'd guess it is about as high in contaminants as WD40, Corrosion X, etc. "evaporust does not leave an oily residue like the other two penetrating oils. This is not surprising since evaporust is not a penetraiting oil. has anyone successfully used an aluminum table top as a good grounding surface? Perhaps with some noalux between my right angle clamps and the table surface it woudl work???http://www.idealindustries.com/prodD...?prodId=noalox
Reply:http://www.millerwelds.com/resources...welding-tablesthis answered my questions. gotta ground the aluminum work, if you use an aluminum table surface. Which kind of defeats the purpose of having a table if you ask me!
Reply:Evaporust is to remove rust, not prevent rust."USMCPOP" First-born son: KIA  Iraq 1/26/05Syncrowave 250 w/ Coolmate 3Dialarc 250, Idealarc 250SP-175 +Firepower TIG 160S (gave the TA 161 STL to the son)Lincwelder AC180C (1952)Victor & Smith O/A torchesMiller spot welder
Reply:I work in a plant that does aluminum fabrication. We have about 20 4'x8' scissor lift tables with bare 1/4" steel tops that we fabricate on. The only time we get any rust on the table tops is if water is spilled or leaks on them. Then we just take a sander to them. I've worked there for 7 years and I know some of the table tops are 15 plus years old. If your shop is heated and the tables are used everyday it shouldn't be a problem. I wouldn't want to spray anything on the table tops and take the chance of it contaminating the aluminum I have to weld.
Reply:I use the cheapest penetrating oil from the auto parts store. And WD40 in a pinch. After the penetrating oil clouds over I wipe it down again and done for another month. Dirty gloves are more of a problem.Last edited by shovelon; 12-03-2012 at 12:30 PM.Weld like a "WELDOR", not a wel-"DERR" MillerDynasty700DX,Dynasty350DX4ea,Dynasty200DX,Li  ncolnSW200-2ea.,MillerMatic350P,MillerMatic200w/spoolgun,MKCobraMig260,Lincoln SP-170T,PlasmaCam/Hypertherm1250,HFProTig2ea,MigMax1ea.
Reply:Originally Posted by AluminumWelderhttp://www.millerwelds.com/resources...welding-tablesthis answered my questions. gotta ground the aluminum work, if you use an aluminum table surface. Which kind of defeats the purpose of having a table if you ask me!
Reply:I keep a sheet of 1/8" 6061 t6 on top of my stainless steel bench and weld on it all the time, mostly steel. never really have grounding problems but I usually clamp whatever I'm welding down to the table unless it's a very heavy item, then it doesn't even need to be clamped. I do notice though that this does give a good ground to clean steel but when welding aluminum if the contact surface of the item I'm welding is a bit oxidized then I may have some grounding issues when welding aluminum on top of the aluminum sheet. it seems that a steel item will ground better to a slightly oxidized aluminum top than an oxidized aluminum piece to oxidized aluminum top for whatever that's worth...miller 330a bp TIGmiller dynasty 200DX TIGmillermatic 185 MIGthermal dynamics cutmaster 101 plasma cuttersnap-on YA5550 plasma cutterhypertherm powermax 30 plasma cutterbaileigh CS225 cold sawetc....
Reply:how about trying this;http://www.fluid-film.com/products/
Reply:"it seems that a steel item will ground better to a slightly oxidized aluminum top than an oxidized aluminum piece to oxidized aluminum top for whatever that's worth.."Yes that is what I thought.If your shop is heated and the tables are used everyday it shouldn't be a problemHavent' gotten around to adding heat yet, and not sure if it will be used every day thought it will be used at least 20 to 30 hrs a week. "Evaporust is to remove rust, not prevent rust."the directions say it will help prevent rust as well.